Page 72 of Don't Let Go

Rory jumped as I took my shot and made it.

“I hope you can win that game too. You need to show them you don’t need Scottsdale,” she said, tossing the ball at me.

The bell rang. Lunch was over.

“The pizza place you take me to better be good.” She smiled at me and walked toward her next class.

I managed to get us through the awkward stage and ask Rory out, sort of. As I watched her pull her hair free from her ponytail and allow it to freely flow down her back, I hoped I wasn’t making another huge mistake.

I wanted to see Rory happy. She may still be a stranger in many ways, but when she smiled, everything around her brightened. She made me feel like no matter what, everything was going to be okay. I felt the need to repay her.

Hopefully, I didn’t make a fool of myself. After all, we still had to live next door to each other under the same roof, no matter what happened at dinner.

30

Aurora

I may have let Tyler win that game, but I’d never admit that to a soul. After school, Carmen was waiting for me by the car. I grabbed the keys and tossed them at her.

“I have somewhere to be. Can you pick up Lizzy and go straight home?”

She caught the keys and lit up like a child on Christmas morning. “Yes!”

I laughed. “You’re so dramatic.” Carmen walked around the car and reached for the driver’s door handle. I blocked her way. “I mean it. You need to pick Lizzy up and then go home. I don’t want you joyriding. Not even for food. We’re having tacos for dinner.”

Carmen cocked her hip to the side and folded her arms across her chest. “Oh? It doesn’t seem like you’ll be joining us.”

“Never mind what my plans are. I trust you to get yourself home.”

She looked to her left, waving to a couple of girls wearing long black dresses and sporting jumbo-sized white sunglasses. Her theater friends had questionable fashion taste.

“Yes. I will go straight home after getting Lizzy. Okay? Can I go now?” She clicked her tongue. Now I understood why Mamma threatened to slap me across the face when I clicked my tongue as a kid. It was annoying and rude.

I clutched my fists at my sides to keep from striking my sister and took a deep breath. “You can go, and don’t invite anyone over.” I looked at her friends, who were all getting into a silver car. “You need to watch Lizzy until Mamma gets home later tonight.”

“I know. I’ve watched our little sister before, remember? Geez.” She snapped her gum. “I will watch Lizzy, prepare dinner, do my homework, and redye my hair. Do I need to give you all that in a military timetable or are we through?”

My eye twitched.Don’t hit your sister. Don’t hit your sister.“Please don’t make a mess with your hair.”

“I won’t.” She opened the driver’s door. “Have fun on your… date.” She nodded behind me and sat behind the wheel.

She didn’t deserve a response. I wasn’t going to react to her words. This was a date because of losing the game, but it wasn’t arealdate, was it?

I turned around as Carmen drove off and couldn’t help but smile as I spotted Tyler. He looked handsome in his tight blue jeans and black shirt. He wasn’t wearing that when we were playing basketball at lunch. His hair was messy, like he ran his hands through it, making all the strands stick up. From far away, I could see a slight five o’clock shadow on his jawline. What made me pause were his eyes. He stared at me so intensely I should’ve gone up in flames.

Ty gestured toward his Rolls-Royce, unlocking the vehicle. “You ready?”

“Yes. You know it’s a shame I didn’t kick your ass at that game. I would love to have taken this out for a spin,” I said, sliding into the passenger’s seat.

Ty laughed, but it sounded like it came from the back of his throat, as if the thought of me owning his car made him nervous.

I licked my lips and watched him go around the car. Once he took a seat, I wiggled my ass deeper into his leather seat and put on my seat belt. “I guess I’ll have to play harder next time.”

Ty swallowed while clicking his seat belt on and push-started the engine. “Just so you know, I’m never betting this car again. I can’t believe I agreed the first time.”

If only he knew that when I wanted something, I got it.

Ty turned the radio to a rock station and pulled out of the student parking lot. As we drove past the high school, I remained quiet and idled at the first red light.

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